You can now watch the fifth and penultimate episode of Ray’s latest series, Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears, online. Simply click on the image below to be taken to the official ITV Player website:
Ray Mears in Ontario (photo by Goh Iromoto)
The latest issue of The Great Outdoors magazine includes a feature on Ray’s recent canoeing trip in Ontario, Canada. Ray gave his own first-hand account in a previous blog post of ours, but it’s interesting to see the trip from another point of view. Peter Coombs joined Ray and Becky Mason for a portion of their adventure, and his article can be seen in the January issue of The Great Outdoors, which went on sale today. To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt: Continue reading
Ray with the book’s author, Martin Hayward Smith
A new book has been released this autumn, chronicling the captivating lives of one of Britain’s most recognisable native species. My Year with Hares records one man’s amazing year-long obsession with this fascinating animal, from his addiction to finding and photographing them through the seasons, to rearing a rescued leveret.
The book’s author is one Martin Hayward Smith, a professional wildlife cameraman and photographer, who has travelled the world extensively for the BBC and Discovery, among many other companies. Ray and Martin first worked together during the filming for Ray’s Wild Britain series, and it was this chance meeting that ultimately led to Ray writing the foreword to Martin’s beautiful book.
Read on for Ray’s foreword in its entirety, along with a selection of Martin’s images, taken from My Year with Hares:
If you want to see wildlife you need to dress warmly and in colours that blend in with your surroundings. Then go outdoors when others are indoors and sit perfectly still. Remain perfectly still even if it involves suffering. Continue reading
Having returned from an extremely successful expedition in Namibia this year, we wanted to share with you a small taster of our experiences:
Isaac, one of our San Bushman guides
Ray Mears on location in the Lake District
To those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the next episode of Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears, we would like to thank you for your ongoing patience. Episode five, which sees Ray travelling to Borrowdale in the Lake District, will be broadcast at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 23rd December, on ITV1.
The following post was written by Woodlore Senior Assistant, Ross Burt:
It’s that time of year when work goes quiet. Does that mean that it’s time to rest? NO! It means that I can get out into the woods and practice my skills, as well as produce items to sell or, in this case, give as a Christmas present! So, not only am I out practising and gaining more knowledge, I am also saving money and giving someone a much-needed gift.
I have just finished two chopping boards and a hanger for them; there is one from beech (this will be used for vegetables) and one from oak (for meat). There’s a give-away on the boards that suggests what each one should be used for! The hanger is made of oak and I decided to make the pegs from the same materials as each board.
Ross’ Handmade Chopping Boards
You can now watch the fourth episode of Ray’s brand new series, Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears, online. Simply click on the image below to be taken to the official ITV Player website:
If you missed episode three, which saw Ray exploring the rugged landscape of Snowdonia, you can catch up on the ITV Player here.
The following post was written by Woodlore’s founder, Ray Mears. You can now watch Virunga online, via Netflix.
This week I was privileged to attend the London premiere of a new feature-length documentary. Surrounded by a packed house, the Curzon cinema on the Kings Road was the venue for what can best be described as a phenomenon. I sat enthralled as the audience around me laughed, gasped and cried; two ladies beside me were so moved that they sobbed uncontrollably in floods of tears. At the end of the screening the titles rolled to cheers and rapturous applause. The film is Virunga.
Ray Mears on location in Galloway, Scotland
The fourth episode of Ray’s latest series hits our screens next week, with Ray travelling to Galloway in southwestern Scotland. To see it first, tune in at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 11th November, on ITV1. For viewers in Wales, the episode will be first shown at 1:00 PM on Sunday 16th November.
The following post was written by Woodlore Senior Assistant, Mark Booton:
If you were to ask me what my favourite month is, I’d answer October without hesitation. The reason for this could be one of a number of things: It was the month I met my wife – we always go away for an October half term break – and I also look forward to the Woodlore end of season staff barbecue. These, though, aren’t the real reasons. I love October for one above all others – foraging.
I simply love to forage for wild fungi, and October never lets you down. September can be amazing, but it is a fickle month on the foraging calendar. It blows hot and cold. A late autumn and September can produce little. November can be good, but the enjoyment is always slightly tarnished because all too soon it will be over. October is the month.
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 